“I think the players are doing everything they can and working as hard as they can,” said Neil.

“We need to take chances and not make silly mistakes, but I feel like I’m a broken record because it’s the same things I’m saying every game.”

Neil’s side have picked up only one league point since their FA Cup exit to Manchester City on 9 January, and fell behind against Chelsea after just 39 seconds to Kenedy’s drilled effort – the fastest Premier League goal this season.

Diego Costa made it 2-0 before half-time from an offside position, but Neil was more disappointed by how his side allowed the visitors to get such an early foothold.

“The first goal is a huge frustration for us. We have six behind the ball and the left-back manages to score,” Neil told BBC Radio Norfolk.

“It just makes the game more difficult from that point onwards for us because you want to make a good start and implement your style of play. And then the second goal is offside – but more frustration comes from the first goal.

“In the second half we had opportunities to score – we didn’t score. I think we defended resolutely and the boys literally put their bodies on the line.

“Gary [O’Neil] came off with a gash in his head, Robbie [Brady] has lost two teeth, Alex [Tettey] has gone for an X-ray and Tim Klose was hobbling about for the last half hour – so they gave everything they could.”

Tettey ‘fears for season’

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Alex Tettey has made 23 appearances for Norwich this season

Tettey was substituted after 36 minutes against Chelsea and after an X-ray showed no broken bones, he is set to have a scan to see the extent of his ankle injury.

“I will go for a new examination today (MRI). If it’s a ligament injury, the season will be over for me,” Tettey is reported to have said in VG Sporten.

“I am excited for the examination, but I fear the season is over for me. If the ligament is injured, an operation is needed.”